Rotary gang assembly



W 6, 1947- w. R. BROWN 2,419,986

ROTARY GANG ASSEMBLY Filed May 3', 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1947-. r w. R.BROWN 2,419,986

' noun: GANG ASSEMBLY Filed lay 3, 1944 3 Shuts-Sheet 2 5 a H I g z/ 20/6 e I? s A? 5 w J z: a Z

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ROTARY GANG AS SEMBLY Filed May 5, 1944 I5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented May6, 1947 Application-May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,913

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an assembly or means of mounting rotary switchsection or parts to iiacilitate compact disposition and manipulation ina radio chassis, with a view to utilizing the shortest practical wiring,rendering additional space available, and elimination of the spacer androd method of assembly.

It is particularly aimed to provide such assembly which includes amounting element, switch sections or parts strung along the same, andheld in place by clasp engagement therewith, with or without set screws,in combination with an operating .rod engaged in rotatable bearing meansmounted by the sections or parts.

Another important object is to provide a novel switch wafer embodying apracticable bearing and rotor combination wherein the mounting parts forthe conductors are of ceramic material.

In addition, it is also aimed to provide a position locator and stopmeans in connection with a novel panel bearing.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

i Figure 1 is aview in elevation showing the main parts or sections oi aswitch assembled or constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a view substantially in central vertical longitudinalsection Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 1 2-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a. vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

through the parts of like reference characters designate like or similarparts, all sections or elements or the switch are adapted to be mountedorstrungon a supporting element as generally shown at III, which isrigidly fastened in any suitable manner within a radio 'chassis, as byholding one end rigid in a panel bearing and the other end by a machinescrew bolted to the chassis. This element may be flat or may have raisedside flanges as at II, as best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. v i

The gang or switch consists primarily of mounting and control section asat A, and any Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line v 5-! ofFigure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail of one of the bracket and particularlythe rotatable bearing thereof;

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of one form of stop lug plate which maybe used with the ad- Justable position locator;

Figure Bis a detail elevation ofa modified form of selector plate;

Figure 9 is an elevation of one of the switch waters which may beemployed wherein the mounting parts are of ceramic material;

Figure 10 is a diametric section taken on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the stator of such switch wafer;and

v Figure 12 is a detail section taken ,on the line i2i2 of Figure 10. 1Referring specifically to the drawings where desired number of bracketsB mount or support switch sections. Section C is an electrostaticshield, its use being optional. .Said sections re-'- spectively includebrackets i2, i3 and H, each of which has horizontally disposed mountingbases at l5, in the form of clasps, in that each has a downwardly andinwardly extending string finger i8 at each side edge, such fingersfrictionally and resiliently clasping the flanges ll, to maintain thesections in adjusted position frictionally, al-

' though slidable along the mounting element'l 0.

It is to be borne in mind that the sections A, B,

C are capable of ready assembly or disassembly witl'rrespect to themounting element l0 and rod i1, either before or after attachment of allof the parts thereto and attachment of thewiring to the same.

All of the sections A, B, andC are of,a construction to enable thenecessary rotation of the fiat rod ll, some of them having relativelylarge clearance openings at, I 8, and the remaining parts.havingappropriate bearings. To the latter end,

rotatable bearings l9 are disposed in central annular, openings 20.01?the brackets 2| of the section 13. Such bearings i 9 are overlapped byplates or discs 22 which also overlap the brackets l3, and such partsare all securedtogether by tubular rivets 23, to the bores of which, therod l'l passes, or by any other means whereby rod I1 is held inalignment horizontally but free to rotate in a circular direction. Thebracket B serves two purposes; one to mount the switch wafer (Figure 2)and to hold rod H to a central axis thereto and projecting through therotor part of wafer by a flat slot corresponding in size and shape torod H.

In the case of the section A, it has a. bracket 2 through which atubular bearing 25 passes, and which bearing also-passes through a frontpanel 26 of the radio chassis and is clamped thereto by a flange 21 onone side thereof. and a nut 28 is screwed on the bearing and engagingthe-other side thereof. Elements and 3| are loose on the bearing 25 anddisposed at opposite sides of the bracket 24 and element 3| is thesupporting body for a stop lug.

A position selector plate 32 is iournaled on the bearing 23, having aslot 33, through which the rod passes and which conforms in shape andsize thereto. Turning of the rod i! will thus turn the plate 32. Bracket24 has a down turned arm 34 provided with a notch at 33, in which a balllatch 38 is seated. This ball latch 33 is adapted to snap successivelyinto notches 21 arranged in a row of any desired number on the adjacentface of the selector or locator 32, to hold the latter in differentpositions. Arm 34 is somewhat resillent to enable flexing to accommodatethe latch action at the ball 33.

A stop lug 38 is struck out from the bracket 24 extending over theposition locator 32 and it is engageable by stop lugs 33 and 43,provided respectively on the plates 32 and 3|. Stop lug 43 may beselectively positioned in any of a series of radial notches 4|, providedperipherally of the plate 32, the adjustment being effected when theplates 3| and 32 are loose with respect to the bearing and rod i1.Elements 3| and 32 are held spring tight to bracket 24 by lugs 34 and42, as in Figure 2. This spring action allows lug 3| to be adjusted atwill without disturbing other parts.

The lugs 33 and 40 are engageable with the aforesaid stop lug 33 at theopposite extremes of movement. A lug 42 may be struck from the bracket24 to extend over the face of the plate 32.

In lieu of the selector plate 32, separate lu plate 3|, I may employ themodified form of selector plate 32' disclosed in Figure 8. It has alimited number of impressions or sockets 31 which function like those at31 in connection with the ball latch 33. In addition, it has lugsintegral with it at 33a and 33b which function like those at 39 and 40,with respect to the stop lug 33.

It will be understood that one or more wafers can be mounted on eachbracket of the sections, such as might be desired in a single stageshield. Any suitable means such as a key or retainer ring may be placedon the rod II at any convenient place or places to prevent the same frommoving forward and the pointer knob which will be attached to the frontthereof, will prevent backward movement of such rod. A cuff and setscrews could also be used. Any switch section may be removed for repairor re lacement without disturbing the remainder of the switch. Thevarious pieces may be each stamped in a single piece from sheet metal.

In lieu of the assemblies B for switch mountin means or the equivalent,I may employ the novel modified form disclosed in Figures 9 to 12. Inthis form, designates a stator, for instance of ring form, stationarilymounted in any suitable manner to the chassis as by bolts or rivets 5|passing through openings in the stator. Rotatable within the stator 50is a bearing 52 and it will be noted that at the junction of the bearingand stator, they have overlapping flanges at 30' and 3|. These parts 50and 52 are preferably made of ceramic material and the rotor or bearing32 or any desired number of them may be strung on the rod since thebearing has a central opening 53 of the same cross-sectional area as rodI I, so that they will intimately interfit.

The various metallic parts are suitably fastened to the ceramic parts 50and 32. For instance, a grounding contact 54 is riveted at 33 to thebearing and disposed so that rod II will engage the latter. Also,riveted to the bearinl or rotor 32 as at 33, are arcuate contacts 33.Coacting with the arcuate contacts 33 are radially disposed statorcontacts 31, also constituting individual circuit contacts. Such statorcontacts 31 are generally of L-shape having inverted portions 33 to wipethe contacts 34 and 33 and each also has fastening lugs at 33. It willbe noted that contact proper and the lugs 39 pass through slots as at 33and 3|, respectively, through the stator 30 and are suitably offset tosecure the contact 31 in place. The latter contacts pro- Ject outwardlybeyond the periphery of the stator 33 so as to expose holes 32 therein,for the connection of individual circuit wires thereto. Thisconstruction of Figures 9 to 12 is a two-pole, riveposition waferswitch.

Various changes may be resorted to Provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A structure of the class described comprising a mounting element,mounting brackets, said brackets having bases slidable along theelement, a rotatable actuating rod, rotatable bearing means in thebrackets, said rod passing through said bearing means.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a mounting element,mounting brackets, said brackets having bases slidable along theelement. a rotatable actuating rod, rotatable bearing means in thebrackets, said rod passing through the bearing means, the bearing meansand rod having non-circular engagement.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a mounting element,mounting brackets, said brackets having bases slidable along theelement, a rotatable actuating rod passing through rotatable bearings inthe brackets, a selector through which the rod passes so as to turn withthe rod. latch means for the selector, comprising an arm, a ball latch,coacting depressions on the selector and arm, stop means for theselector, and a stop lug on the bracket engageable by the stop means.

4. A structure of the class described comprising a mounting element,mounting brackets, said brackets having bases slidable along theelement, a rotatable actuating rod passing through rotatable bearings onthe brackets, a selector on one of the brackets through which the rodpasses so as to turn with the rod, latch means for the selectorcomprising an arm, a ball latch, coacting depressions on the selectorand arm, stop means for the selector, and a stop lug on the bracketengageable by the stop means including a plate journalled on thebearing, said plate having a lug and the selector having a series ofperipheral notches selectively engageable by said lug.

WILLIAM R. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

rmrran s'rarns PATENTS Number Name Date 2,099,971 Dailey Nov. 23, 19372,196,892 Berndt Apr. 9, 1940 1,677,496 Sessions July 17, 1928 1,854,372Franks Apr. 19, 1932 1,977,397 Morel Oct. 16, 1934 2,069,627Schwarzhaupt Feb. 2, 1937 2,095,100 Maillard Oct, 5, 1937

